I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 414 together.
Ireland is a strong contributor to European Union and United Nations efforts to eliminate human rights violations. This includes our work on human rights issues across the UN system, including at the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.
Ireland remains actively engaged on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and is co-chairing the Security Council’s Informal Expert Group on WPS. On 14 March, Ireland participated in a Security Council Open Debate on Conflict Related Sexual Violence, highlighting incidents of sexual and gender based violence, and calling on the Council to use the tools at its disposal to eliminate such violations and ensure accountability.
Ireland is also an active participant in the Council’s Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC). The Working Group recently adopted the first set of Conclusions on South Sudan which included strengthened language on humanitarian access, the best interests of the child and on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights. Ireland will continue to seek to further mainstream child protection across the work of the Council during our term.
Ireland also engages actively at the UN Human Rights Council. At the recently concluded 46th session of the Council, Ireland delivered over 20 National Statements on country-specific human rights situations. including Myanmar, Syria, Iran, Yemen, South Sudan, DPRK, Eritrea, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. My Department also meets regularly with the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Professor Siobhán Mulally from NUI Galway.
At EU level, Ireland is an active participant and contributor to the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, which works globally to support the preservation of peace, the prevention of conflicts and the strengthening of international security. Combating trafficking is also a key priority in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. The Plan’s objectives include promoting measures to prevent and fully eradicate trafficking in human beings, including by countering impunity for all perpetrators involved.
